The Iowa Supreme Court issued two opinions from May 15-21. As of May 21, the court issued 56 opinions in 2023 — five fewer than this point a year ago. Both of the opinions are below:
Sutton v. Council Bluffs Water Works, where the court “affirmed the judgment of the district court denying the motion filed by the Council Bluffs Water Works’ to dismiss the claim brought by Jim and Angela Sutton for strict liability, holding that the district court did not err in failing to dismiss Suttons’ strict liability claim.”Venckus v. City of Iowa City, where the court “affirmed the judgment of the district court granting summary judgment to a police detective and his city employer in this case alleging defamation, abuse of process, and malicious prosecution, holding that there was no error.”
From May 15-21, state supreme courts issued 186 opinions nationally. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia issued the most with 21. State supreme courts in 15 states issued the fewest with zero. Courts where judges are elected have issued 121 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 65.
The Iowa Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Susan Christensen. The court issued 110 opinions in 2022 and 112 in 2021. Nationally, state supreme courts issued 7,423 opinions in 2022 and 8,320 in 2021. The courts have issued 2,660 opinions in 2023. Courts where judges are elected have issued 1,511 opinions, while courts whose members are appointed have issued 1,149. Iowa is a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
